British dinner games By Gina, Kim and Jade

25 Th of January: Burns night. Burns night is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scottish poems. Burns' suppers are most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland, There is also a particularly strong tradition of them in southern New Zealand's, where Burns' nephew Thomas Burns was a founding father. Man in kilt

What happens on the night. Host welcoming speech: The personal holding the dinner will welcome everyone to their seats. Grace - Selkirk grace: A grace is said to start the meal. Piping of haggis: Bag pipes are played while the haggis is brought out of the kitchen. Address to haggis: A long poem is read to welcome the haggis to the table. When half way through the poem, the haggis is cut open and served.

Addressing the haggis Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the puddin-race! Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o' a grace As lang's my arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin wad help to mend a mill In time o' need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead. (sonsie = jolly/cheerful) (aboon = above) (painch = paunch/stomach) (thairm = intestine) (hurdies = buttocks)

His knife see rustic Labour dicht, An' cut you up wi' ready slicht, Trenching your gushing entrails bricht, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sicht, Warm-reekin, rich! Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmaist! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve, Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, "Bethankit" hums. (dicht = wipe, here with the idea of sharpening) (slicht = skill) (reeking = steaming) Addressing the haggis

Is there that o're his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad mak her spew Wi' perfect scunner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinner? Poor devil! see him ower his trash, As feckless as a wither'd rash, His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash, His nieve a nit; Thro' bloody flood or field to dash, O how unfit (olio = stew, from Spanish olla'/stew pot) (staw = make sick) (scunner = disgust) (nieve = fist) (nit = louse's egg, i.e. tiny) Addressing the haggis

But mark the Rustic, haggis fed, The trembling earth resounds his tread. Clap in his wallie nieve a blade, He'll mak it whistle; An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned, Like taps o' thristle. Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinkin ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer, Gie her a haggis! (wallie = mighty) (nieve = fist) (sned = cut off) (thristle = thistle) (skinkin ware = watery soup) (jaups = slops about (luggies = Ears) Addressing the haggis

What happens on the night. Memorial speech: A speech is recited to remember Robbie burns. Toast to the lassies: A toast to the women who cooked the haggis. Burns poems: A few poems that Robbie had written are recited. Closing – Auld Lang Syne